Rifle launched rocket

ABSTRACT

A RIFLE LAUNCHED ROCKET WHICH COMPRISES A ROCKET MOTOR PROVIDED WITH A BULLET CATCHER AND A WARHEAD WITH A FUSE ASSEMBLY AND MEANS FOR ATTAHCMENT OF THE ROCKET TO THE MUZZLE OF A FILID RIFLE. IN OPERATION WHEN THE RIFLE IS FIRED THE COMBINATION OF THE BULLET MOMENTUM AND THE GASES FROM THE FIRED CARTRIDGE CREATE SUFFICIENT IMPETUS TO LAUNCH THE ROCKET FROM THE BARREL OF THE RIFLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE BULLET IGNITES THE ROCKET MOTOR WHICH PROPELS THE ROCKET TO THE TARGET AT HIGH SPEED. WHEN THE FORWARD END OF THE ROCKET WHICH CARRIES THE WARHEAD AND FUSE ASSEMBLY HITS A TARGET, THE FUSE INITIATES DETONATION OF THE WAREHEAD. THIS DEVICE PROVIDES A MEANS FOR BOOSTING THE RANGE AND DESTRUCT CAPABILITY OF SMALL ROCKETS CARRYING HIGH EXPLOSIVES OR VARIOUS TYPES OF CHEMICALS.

Nov. 16, 1971 P. c. KING RIFLE LAUNCHED nocxmw Filed Sept. 50. 1969INVI'QN'IHR.

PAUL C. KING ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

US. Cl. 10265.2 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rifle launchedrocket which comprises a rocket motor provided with a bullet catcher anda warhead with a fuse assembly and means for attachment of the rocket tothe muzzle of a field rifle. In operation when the rifle is fired thecombination of the bullet momentum and the gases from the firedcartridge create suflicient impetus to launch the rocket from the barrelof the rifle. Simultaneously the bullet ignites the rocket motor whichpropels the rocket to the target at high speed. When the forward end ofthe rocket which carries the warhead and fuse assembly hits a target,the fuse initiates detonation of the warhead. This device provides ameans for boosting the range and destruct capability of small rocketscarrying high explosives or various types of chemicals.

GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a rifle launchedrocket.

In the field of small weapons, particularly, objects designed to bethrown, dropped, projected, or propelled by a hand operated,individually carried apparatus, such as a field rifle, the need existsfor greater target capability. Hand and gun tossed grenades and smalllaunchers have been developed and used as a means of defense or offense.However, these missiles generally have limited effectiveness. Thepresent invention will overcome some of the difliculties encountered andprovide an effective means of boosting the range and destruct capabilityfor one handling a single Weapon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view of the rocket positioned ona field rifle in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the rocket attached to the muzzleend of a field rifle; and

FIG. 3 is a section of the fin assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing whereinsimilar numbers refer to similar parts there is shown in FIG. 1, rocketembodying this invention positioned on the muzzle end of a field rifle11. In FIG. 2 rocket 10 is shown in section. It comprises a rocket motor12, the rear end of which encloses a nozzle 13, a bullet assemblyattached by threaded or other means to the forward end of said motor 12at point 14; and a warhead 16 secured to the forward end of catcherassembly 15 by suitable means such as sliding over a flange or bythreaded means. Rocket motor 12 comprises a combustion chamber 17 formedby a hollow metal casing 18 lined with insulation material 19, such asphenolic asbestos, and containing therein an internal perforated solidpropellant grain 20. Grain 20 is cast into said chamber 17, or Wrappedwith insulation material 19 and secured to the walls of said UnitedStates Patent 0 chamber. The insulation also functions as an inhibitoragainst ignition of the grain. Nozzle 13, an extension of casing 18which forms the chamber, is a conventional type for exit of the thrustproducing high pressure gas produced upon ignition of propellant grain20. The gases pass through the nozzle throat 21 which is provided withinsert 22 composed of graphite or phenolic asbestos bonded to casing 18with a cement designated 23. A fin assembly 24, attached to the nozzleend of rocket 12 and the muzzle end of rifle 11, provides forstabilization of rocket 10. Pin assembly 24 comprises four fins designedgenerally by numeral 25, which are attached to an inner ring member 26adapted to closely engage the outer surface of casing 18 of the end ofsaid rocket nozzle 13 and the outer surface of the muzzle end of therifle 11. That part of ring member 26 which engages casing 18 is securedthereto by welding or other suitable means. The outer edges of fins 25are joined by close fit or are cemented to an outer ring member 27. Twoports designated 28 are positioned opposite each other in the nozzlesection 13 near the point of attachment of inner ring 26. Ports 2-8serve to release the overpressure caused by gases escaping from thecartridge of the rifle. Bullet catcher 15 comprises a metal plate 29,having a forward surface 30 provided with a flanged edge 31 Which fitsinto the forward end of rocket casing 18 and the rear surface 32 whichis concave and closes the cylindrical shaped warhead 16; a cylindricalmetal tube 33 which is mounted on the center of said plate and ispositioned through the middle of combustion chamber 17 with the sameaxis as said nozzle throat 21. Tube 33 is provided with a liner 34comprising a plurality of ceramic discs. The discs at the forward end ofthe tube adjacent plate 29 are solid, and each of the others areprovided with a center bore of varying dimensions so that when they arestacked one on the other a single conical shaped bore 36 is formed.Liner 35 acts to stop the bullet as it passes from the gun through therocket nozzle into bore 36 of said assembly. The warhead 16 comprises ametal cylinder 37 substantially filled with a high explosive 38 andsecured by threads or other suitable means to the concave side 32 ofsaid bullet catcher plate 29. A fuse mechanism 39 is threaded in thenose of said warhead 16 for detonation of the warhead high explosive 38.

A plastic hood 40 is shown covering the main components of saidmechanism. The fuse body 41 is of steel and is secured by threaded meansinto the nose of warhead 16. The detonating train 42 is shown positionedthrough the center of the fuse and in contact with a booster charge 43which is adjacent high explosive 38.

Many conventional impact fuses are available which initiate detonationupon impact of a target. An example of a suitable fuse is described indetail in Pat. No. 2,948,219, which issued to W. F. Sapp in August 1960,and is assigned to the United States of \America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy. A delay fuse can also be used, such as describedin Pat. No. 3,162,127 which issued in December 1964, and is alsoassigned to the Government. The delay fuse will permit the rocket topenetrate the target before detonating the explosive carried in thewarhead.

The liner for the bullet catcher comprises ceramic discs made from boroncarbide. Other ceramics which are temperature and pressure resistant canbe used.

In operation rocket 10 is attached to the muzzle of the gun 11. When thegun is fired the bullet passes through the nozzle throat 21 of motor 12into bore 36 which catches the bullet. The bullet impact and gun gaseslaunch the rocket, and ignite the propellant grain. Burning of thepropellant creates suflicient thrust to propel 3 the rocket to thetarget. When the rocket hits or approaches the target, the fuse isinitiated whereupon detonation of the high explosive carried in thewarhead causes destruction.

The term rocket used herein means an aggressive missile, carrying awarhead containing a payload of high explosives or other chemicals, thatis projected from a launcher (a rifle) toward a target by a rocket powerplant or a solid rocket combustion unit. This rocket can be used onvarious types of rifles without modification of the rifle. It is easilyportable and simple to use.

The solid propellant used in the rocket motor is generally of thecomposite type, although the homogeneous (double-base) propellant canalso be used. Examples of the composite propellants are the polysulfidepropellants which are a mixture of granular ammonium perchloratesuspended in a polysulfide synthetic rubber; the polyurethanepropellants which are prepared by the reaction of di-isocyanate materialwith polyglycols containing functional hydroxyl groups and subsequentaddition of ammonium perchlorate along with aluminum powder to increaseperformance; and plastisol perchlorate propellants which are made bydispersing an inorganic oxidizer in a fluid fuel mixture made ofapproximately equal parts of finely divided polyvinyl chloride and anonsoluble plasticizer. There are many other composite grains which canbe used. The double-base grain is a gelatinized colloidal mixtureconsisting of nitrocellulose and an explosive plasticizer usuallynitroglycerin.

The casing was steel. Other suitable materials can be used such asaluminum and many of the plastics depending on shelf-life andcompatibility of materials.

The warhead was filled with the high explosive,cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), orcyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX). Other high explosives such ascomposition C and diaminotrinitrobenzene (DATB) could be used, as Wellas some of the anti-personnel agents and gelled fuels in use today.

What is claimed is:

1. A rifle launched rocket consisting essentially of a rocket motorprovided with a fin assembly and means for attachment at its nozzle endto the muzzle of a rifle;

a bullet catcher assembly secured to the forward end of said motor; and

a warhead provided with a fuse and containing a high explosive mountedto the forward end of said bullet catcher assembly;

said rocket motor consisting of a combustion chamber closed at theforward end by a bullet catcher assembly and having an opening at theaft end through an exhaust nozzle and an internal perforated propellantgrain bonded to the combustion chamber wall;

said bullet catcher consisting of a metal plate; a cylindrical tubeclosed at one end by said plate; said tube being projected into thecenter of said combustion chamber adjacent said nozzle and having thesame axis as said nozzle; a plurality of ceramic discs stacked insidesaid tube to form a liner;

said discs at the base of said tube being solid and the remainder ofsaid discs being provided with a center bore of varying dimensionswhereby said stacked discs form a single conical bore which catches thebullet from the rifle as it passes through the nozzle throat whereuponthe bullet impact and gun gases act to launch said rocket.

2. The rocket in accordance with claim 1 wherein said warhead comprisesa metal cylinder substantially filled with a high explosive being amember selected from the group consisting ofcyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine,and

an impact fuse positioned in the nose of said cylinder whereby saidexplosive detonates when said fuse strikes a target.

3. The rocket in accordance with claim 2 wherein said fin assembly andmeans for attachment of said rocket to the muzzle end of a riflecomprises a first ring member adapted to closely engage the outersurface of the end of the nozzle of said rocket and the outer surface ofthe muzzle end of said rifle; said member being welded to said nozzlesurface;

four fins suitably attached to the outer surface of said ring member,and

a second ring member adapted to engage the outer edges of said fins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,900,790 3/1933 Brandt 102-6522,853,008 9/195& Bowles 10265.2 2,998,772 9/1961 Land 102--56 3,007,41011/1961 Blacker 244-3.3 3,140,660 7/1964 Wyser 102-652 3,439,615 4/1969iForman et a1. 10265.2

VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner

